Author: Steve Turner

Rare & Unusual Tropical Trees & Plants, Flowering, Fruit, Native, Palm, Bamboo, Heliconia, Hummingbird, Butterfly

Brazilian Star Calathea

Calathea belongs to the Marantaceae Family, more commonly known as The Prayer Plant Family. At night the leaves point upward like praying hands. Calathea loeseneri, the Star Calathea has one of the most ornate flowers in this group. It is pinkish white and shaped like a star. This group of plants requires a moist shady…
Read more


July 2, 2022 0

Rainbow Cassia Tree

This tree is a hybrid between Cassia fistula (Golden Shower Tree) and Cassia javanica (Apple Blossom Tree).  The flowers are a blend of the two trees, with some of the flowers more yellow than pink, while others are more pink than yellow. This gives a very spectacular look to the tree when it is in full bloom. …
Read more


June 19, 2022 0

Pagoda Flower

Clerodendrum paniculatum, The Pagoda Flower is named for the shape of its flowers. This species was first described in 1767 by none other than Carl Linnaes himself (The Father of modern biological nomenclature). This shrub spreads by means of root suckers to create a nice clump of stems, each producing a scarlet pagoda shaped inflorescence.…
Read more


June 11, 2022 0

Lobster Claw Heliconia

There are many species and hybrid Heliconias in the nursery trade. The most recognized Heliconia and the most asked for Heliconia by far is Heliconia rostrata. This is also the one most commonly referred to as the Lobster Claw Heliconia. It is one of the only Heliconia’s on the market whose flower is pendant. That…
Read more


June 5, 2022 0

Double Crepe Jasmine or Pinwheel Jasmine

Tabernaemontana divaricata ‘Flore Pleno’, the cultivar ‘Flore Pleno’, refers to the double petals of its flowers. This large shrub or small tree is in the Apocynaceae Family, which Plumeria is a member of. Like Plumeria, Crepe Jasmine flowers are also extremely fragrant except only at night. Crepe Jasmine is native to Southeast Asia and China…
Read more


May 29, 2022 0